Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how the Netherlands could line up for Friday’s Euro 2024 clash with France.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has a critical decision to make in attack for Friday’s Euro 2024 Group D clash with France at the Red Bull Arena.
Thanks to their 2-1 success over Poland on matchday one, the Dutch will guarantee their progression to the last 16 with victory in Leipzig, where Brian Brobbey is expected to be available again after a hamstring issue.
However, Koeman’s offensive predicament instead comes in the shape of Memphis Depay vs. Wout Weghorst, the latter of whom struck the winning goal against Poland barely two minutes after replacing his fellow Manchester United flop.
Koeman has insisted that Weghorst is not just in the ranks to provide impetus off the bench, but it is still difficult to see the Burnley-owned striker displacing Depay, the second-highest male scorer in Holland history.
As a result, the Oranje boss should keep faith with Depay at the tip of his 4-2-3-1 system, where Cody Gakpo – a menace on Sunday – and the lively Xavi Simons should flank him once again.
Tijjani Reijnders is expected to occupy the most advanced midfield slot, in front of the double pivot of Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman, who will miss the final group game versus Austria if he is cautioned here.
Premier League trio Bart Verbruggen, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake are primed to reprise their roles in the rearguard, where Inter Milan teammates Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries should join them once again.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Veerman; Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo; Depay
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